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Goldilocks shook the snow off her cloak in the entry of a warm tavern. A cavernous old fireplace drew her attention where two cooks were slowly turning a spit on which was stuck an entire side of beef over a bed of glowing coals. Juices and fat from the roasting meat popped and sizzled as they dripped onto the flames. Every now and then the cooks would stop turning the spit to use their long knives to shave off a slice for a customer, dropping the coins deep in their pocket. The clink of their coin hidden in dark pockets reached the ears of the hungry girl watching.
Her fingers played over the handles of one of her throwing knives while the other hand ghosted through empty pockets. If she dared try to steal a piece she’d surely lose her hand. Through the smoke she saw groups of men sitting around tables. Usually in a place like this someone was gambling. Strolling among the crowd Goldilocks took in each tables activities, hunting for a game that would interest her. Reaching the bar she hadn’t found a game that suited her, but her pockets now chimed as stolen coins settled into them.
An idea came and just as quickly her blade flashed and buried deep into a support beam. Freeing the next blade from her belt the girl threw it with the same skill as the first one. Turning she saw she had the attention of the men around her.
“Anyone care for a gamble?” she asked casually. “Five throws each…winner buys the other a slice of that beef over there.”
A small man chuckled, “I’ll take it, lass.”
She smiled and passed him her blade, “You know the rules?”
“I do, lass” he answered taking the blade. “Whoever gets closer to the first blade wins.” he told her simply.
The man took the first turn and Goldilocks felt confidence fill her as his blade stuck, “Less than the length of the knife.” she looked to the man to be sure he understood. At his nod she took her turn. The knife stuck, less than a length away.
Goldilocks saw defeat in his eyes and knew the rest of their game would be an easy victory for her.
“Cut the lass a piece, man!” the man called over to one of the cooks tending the fire, tossing him copper pieces. He sighed at his defeat as Goldilocks gave him a light bow.
“Thank you. If anyone else cares to try their hand,” she took the plate with the sizzling beef from the cook “I’ll be happy to oblige.”
A grizzled man stood ready, “For another cut, lass?”
She shook her head, “This time for a pint.”
“You must be out of coin,” the man laughed at her. It was a joyful laugh and she wondered what he was doing in that tavern. Drinking with thieves.
She chuckled, “I always gamble or work for what I need. You’re right, old man.”
“Bold to gamble when you have nothing to pay with.” he took his first turn.
“Bold?” she asked as she prepared to throw. The knife spun through the air “Or confident?”
The old man chuckled, “You have a right to be confident. Bar keep!” he called “A pint for the lady.” he shook his head as she began to protest, “I know when I’m beat, lass. I give you the drink gladly. After you finish the meal perhaps some of these lads would like a chance to best you…then you can take them for their winnings.”
Before her belly was full she had a line of challengers. Outside the warm tavern with its flickering firelight and smell of ale the snow fell steadily. It wasn’t long before a merry group burst through the doors. Goldilocks watched as they crossed the dim room to the fire for food before settling at a table nearby. Continuing her game Goldilocks was aware she drew the eyes of several of its members. As the last two coins were pressed into her hand one man made his way over to her.
“How many throws?” he asked tossing his money on the table.
Goldilocks took a coin from her pocket and laid it beside his, “Five.” she told him.
The large man was powerful, but power does not equate accuracy. Goldilocks soon returned her coin to her pocket along with the man’s new one. As her fingers left her pocket two more members came over to play the game.
“Keep your hard earned wages, Will.” the large man told his friend “She’s better than you’ll ever be.”
“Some friend I have,” Will winked at her and Goldilocks smiled at the charmer. “I’ll play, John. Even if it is just for the pretty lady’s company.”
Goldilocks shook her head placing a coin beside the new one, “I’ll make it quick.” she assured the big man. “Wouldn’t want him to suffer.” she added playfully as she withdrew her fingers from his pocket, unbeknownst to him. No one saw a glint of silver as she deposited the coin into her own pocket.
“Bloody hell.” Will looked in amazement as the golden headed woman’s blade stuck in the wooden beam.
“Not liking your chances, are ya Will?” jeered the large man.
Will shook his head, “No, Little John. No I’m not.”
Goldilocks smirked, “Wouldn’t care to make it more interesting?”
“No I wouldn’t.” Will told her. “I’ll lose one coin to you with as little humiliation as I can.”
The two each took their turns and Will watched sorrowfully as his small cent disappeared.
A third man she hadn’t noticed melted into their small circle “Still willing to make it more interesting?” he asked softly.
Confidence radiated from him and Goldilocks noted a glimmer of glee in the eyes of the men she’d already gambled with.
“Perhaps another time.” she told him to excuse herself.
“One turn, is all I ask.” he insisted.
Goldilocks had more than she needed from her winnings. But pride answered his call, “Three throws. Place your bet…if I deem it worthy I’ll match.”
He dropped five coins on the rough table and his eyes met hers. Goldilocks held her breath as the trembling coins came to a stop. Digging into her pockets Goldilocks dropped five more on the table and passed him the blade. He handled it with ease.
Goldilocks flinched as the knife struck the wood with a dull thud. Taking her time she took her turn. A murmur ran over the crowd as her blade stuck beside the other less than a knife length away.
“You’re skilled with a knife.” the man told her calmly.
“As are you.” she complimented. “I’ve met few men who can give me a challenge.”
“As have I.” he returned. Goldilocks calmly turned her attention back to her target.
The stranger took his second turn and Goldilocks watched his blade take its mark a knife’s length beside hers.
“How is it none of your men have the same skill?” she asked glancing at the onlookers. “Neither of them were a challenge.”
The man laughed at his men’s dismay, “They have their skills, my lady.”
She scoffed, “I’m not a lady.” she spread her arms to show her simple garb.
The man shook his head at the young woman. She was beautiful and captured the attention of those around her not just due to her skills. “How have you happened here on this cold night?”
“I needed food.” she told him earnestly “And, a warm place to rest.”
She stood aside as the man took his last throw. Switching the knife to her left the girl stepped up to take her turn. Silence filled her little sphere and she imagined she could hear the snow falling softly outside the frosted window. An eruption followed as her blade struck the beam merely an inch from the other.
He laughed in amazement as Goldilocks quietly returned the coins to her pocket and fetched her knives.
She bowed lightly, “Thank you gentlemen.”
“Your name, please.” he asked
Goldilocks shrugged, “I’m no one of consequence.”
The man nodded, “You do yourself a disservice. I hope our paths cross again one day.”
She gave him a light nod as he turned away from the group. The charmer slid beside her on the bench and she wondered if he wanted another game.
“You’re the first I’ve seen to best him.” he told her before returning to his pint.
“That good, is he?” she replied cooly
“That good? Robin is the best there is.” Will told her earnestly “Until tonight.”
“Robin?”
“Robin Hood. Heard of him?” Will asked her
“Aye” she answered taken aback. “You’re telling me that was Robin Hood?” she turned to the man quickly
“The one and only.” he smirked
A puff of air escaped her lips in complete awe, “And who are you?” she asked without ceremony.
“Will Scarlett.” he held out his hand to the woman and she shook it “And you?”
Goldilocks paused “I have a guess.” he told her.
“And what might that be?”
“I think you’re Goldilocks.”
“What gave it away?” she asked brushing aside a curl
“Just, everything about you.” he told her gesturing.
“Well I suppose you think you know everything.” she returned dryly.
He smiled smugly, “I know enough to get by.”
“You’re far from Sherwood Forest.” she observed. “What brings you so far from home?”
“Sorry Goldi,” Will shrugged. “That’s business for the Merry Men.”
She wrinkled her nose at his liberties with her name, “My name is Goldilocks.”
“I knew I guessed rightly.”
Goldilocks lips tightened and she put her hand on his arm, “You do know enough to get by.”
“Aye, that I do.” Scarlett took a long drink, not noticing her fingers making their way into his pocket.
“How long have you been with the Merry Men?”
“Oh a few months at least.”
“Not long then, Knave.”
Will choked on his drink and Goldilocks smiled slyly. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve his eyes met hers “And you know who I am.”
“Aye, I do.” her gray eyes sparkled “You could say I know enough to get by.” she whispered.
“Funny.” his eyes darted about the room to be sure none of the Merry Men were close enough to catch their words.
“Does Robin Hood know he has the Knave in his midst?”
“No.” Will growled
“Why are you here, Knave?”
“If I tell you….will you help me?”
“What’s in it for me?” her eyes shone with greed.
“You’re like me,” he smiled deciding to trust her “There’s a rumor that Maleficent possess a looking glass. It can take you anywhere. I’ve convinced Robin to steal her gold for the people of Sherwood Forest.”
“While you steal the mirror.” Goldilocks nodded “Safety of numbers to get you in..and out if trouble arrives.” she mused “I want in.”
“The mirror is mine.” Will told her.
She nodded, “I don’t want a looking glass, Scarlett. I’ll take the gold.”
“That’s it?” he looked at her suspiciously
“No,” she confessed “I want to go with you. Don’t look so upset, I just need the portal. I’m tired of this place…wouldn’t mind a change of scene.”
“We part ways and never bother each other again?”
“Exactly,” she nodded
“How do we do it.”
“You go for the gold with the rest of the Merry Men. I go for the mirror..” she informed him calmly.
“And? Then what? How do I get the mirror?”
“I have a hard time believing the reputation that proceeds you.” she sighed “It’s simple, Knave. I merely follow you to the camp. You let everyone settle in and go a few hundred yards from camp. I’ll come to you.”
“How do I know you won’t just take the mirror and run?”
“I told you, I don’t want it. I want gold.”
“And I’m supposed to just believe you?”
“You’ll have to trust me.”
“A portal that you can fit in that sack” Will mused “Seems that would be worth more to you than gold.”
“So it would seem.”
Will shook his head, “Who says I even need you?” he wondered aloud, “Could steal the mirror all by my lonesome.”
“Aye,” she agreed calmly much to his surprise “And maybe you won’t have any prying questions from the Merry men on where you wandered off too. Or…maybe you will.” she shrugged unconcerned. “Maybe when Maleficent notices it’s missing…the men won’t blame their newest member. The one that disappeared for a short time while they were in the castle.”
A seed of doubt in his original plan planted itself firmly in the Knave’s mind. “But if you stole it…” he whispered softly.
“No prying eyes would follow me. My presence wouldn’t be missed because no one would know I was there” she told him. “One thing I’ve learned in the last few years…some objects have a curse. For this…you don’t want a seed of doubt in the mind of Robin Hood.”
……..
A whistle from the shadows drew Will’s attention to Goldilocks. Her quick eyes scanned around them as she stepped out of the shadows.
“You’re too nervous.” Goldilocks told him pulling her hood lower
“Didn’t you hear the wind talking?” Will asked thinking it was impossible for her not to have heard Maleficent’s warning.
“I did. Just be sure it doesn’t make you do anything foolish.” she warned.
Will’s eyes scanned the trees for any stragglers from the Merry Men. “Did you get it?”
“Of course,” she produced the looking glass from the folds of her cloak. “And my gold?” she asked flicking her wrist behind her back as he greedily reached for the mirror.
He clenched his jaw as he passed a small bag weighed down with gold to the girl, “Happy to do business with you, mate” she smiled. “I’ll see you again soon.”
She melted back into the shadows of the forest as Will hid the magic mirror in his coat.
…..
“Can it really do as they say?” Anastasia was beaming with excitement. “Take us far away from here.”
“Well let’s hope so. Otherwise Will paid a lot of gold lot for a trinket.” a voice from the corner of the cabin interrupted the moment. “And I’ll have to find another way to leave this place.”
A gasp from Anastasia made Goldilocks chuckle.
“Morning” Goldilocks tilted her head and smiled at Ana, “Ana, was it?”
“It’s Anastasia” the women replied coldly, “Will, who is this?”she turned indigently on Will.
“Thought you lost me,” Goldilocks smiled at Will removing her hood “Didn’t you?”
“Ana this is Goldilocks.” Will stood awkwardly between the two women “She stole the looking glass.”
“And I’ll be going to” the girl paused, “Wonderland, did you say?” Goldilocks leaned against a support beam. “I’ve never been to Wonderland. But it sounds…well, wonderful.”
“Will, what is this?” Ana hissed, her joy had quickly faded.
Will held out his hands, “It’s payment. She stole the glass so she goes too… that was part of the deal.” Ana glared over Will’s shoulder at the thief “Then she’ll be on her way. I promise ya, love.”
Anastasia relaxed under his touch, “Alright” her words agreed but her eyes bore a hole into Goldilocks who smiled under the gaze.
“Are we ready?” Goldilocks asked slinging a bag over her shoulder as she approached the couple.
WIll looked at Ana and everything else melted away “We are.” he tossed the mirror onto the bare floor and it shimmered against the dirt. A pool of glass opened before them and Ana grabbed Will excitedly.
“Are you ready?” Will asked.
“As long as I’m with you, I’m ready for anything.”
“I love you, Anastasia.”
“I love you, WIll Scarlett.” she leaned in and kissed him as Goldilocks rolled her eyes at their delay. “We can be whoever we want to be.”
“Well then.” said Goldilocks disrupting Ana’s bliss. “Next stop Wonderland.”
……
Goldilocks tilted her head as the King descended the stairs with a beautiful young woman on his arm and her jaw dipped as recognition struck her. Following the woman’s glance she found Will Scarlett gazing up at the couple. In a daze Will turned away and pushed his way through the crowd, brushing past merry onlookers celebrating the new queen. Goldilocks wove through the crowd as the gap between her and Scarlett grew. Pushing her way through Goldilocks burst through the edge of the crowd and pivoted looking for Scarlett. Her eyes lay on his retreating figure down the road and she sprinted to catch him.
“Will!” Goldilocks puffed as she finally caught up with the distraught man.
“What do you want, Goldi? I haven’t any jobs for you so leave me be.” Will continued his pace
“Will…what happened with Anastasia…I’m sorry Will.” Goldilocks jogged lightly to keep up with him. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Bloody hell.” Will turned back and looked at the crowd in the distance. His eye drifted to the now empty balcony. “Why not.”
He walked alongside her slowly. “Do you have anywhere to go?” she asked.
Will shrugged, “We had a wagon. I won’t be going back there.” he muttered. “Don’t think Ana will either since… it’s yours if you want it.”
Goldilocks looked at him with sadness in her own eyes, “Come on Will.” she took his arm in hers “To the tavern with you.”
“Haven’t seen you in weeks. You ain’t got nothin’ to do?” he asked. “Something to steal?”
“I can’t leave a friend alone at a time like this.” she bumped him with her shoulder and he scoffed.
“When did we become friends?” he wondered.
“Since I became the only person you know in Wonderland.”
“What a wonderful place this is.” Will told her sarcastically.
“Could be.” she answered. “No one knows us here. Not the king, not the sheriffs.”
Will nodded understanding. “We aren’t wanted here.”
“No we aren’t” she told him merrily as they continued to the tavern.
Goldilocks caught the hand that had found its way deep into her pocket. Her thumb pressed into the back of the small hand and her four fingers clenched the palm as she steered the hand and pressed it against the other girl’s back.
“If you’re going to pick pockets,” Goldilocks stated dryly “You’d do well not to stick your entire hand in!”
The girl who’d attempted to rob Goldilocks grit her teeth in pain, “I’ll remember that.” she breathed
Goldilocks loosened her grip and pushed the girl away from her, “Use your fingers…and maybe next time you won’t get caught. I doubt another will be as generous as I was.”
“Are you a thief too?” the girl asked excitedly, her eyes dazzled by the idea.
“You’re a child.” Goldilocks scoffed as she looked at the girl “I take back what I said. Go home. Before you lose a hand or worse.”
“I haven’t got one.” the girl told her quietly. Her quick young eyes turned to Will “Whose the sad man?” she asked “A friend of yours?”
“You could say that.” Goldilocks nodded while surveying the girl in front of her. She was more than a head shorter than Goldilocks. Brown hair chopped unevenly like she had tried to do it herself with a knife and her green eyes looked at Goldilocks with admiration.
“Is he a thief too?” the girl asked excitedly.
“Not so loud, child.” Goldilocks hissed stepping closer to the child to loom over her “It’s a wonder you haven’t found yourself in prison yet.”
The girl shifted awkwardly and Goldilocks sighed. “What’s your name?”
“Liz.” the girl told her quietly “Short for Lizard”
“Really? Lizard?” Goldilocks arched an eyebrow.
The girl nodded and Goldilocks shrugged. “Can’t say I haven’t heard stranger. Sit at the bar and keep quiet.” she told her “Are you hungry?”
The girl nodded eagerly and Goldilocks waved down the bar keep and ordered the girl a bowl of stew and a couple pints for herself and Scarlett.
“Looks like I have two birds under my wing now.” muttered Goldilocks
“We’ll get caught with her tagging along.” Will interrupted her thoughts.
“I’m more likely to be caught with the likes of you hanging around.” Goldilocks returned sharply.
“Thought you wanted to be friends.” Will took a long pull from his pint. “Making a merry wee band now, aren’t you?”
“I can’t just turn her away.” Goldilocks told him
“Why not?” asked Will between sips
Goldilocks looked at the girl beside her, “Because I used to be her. I was younger….but her all the same.”
“You have a soft spot for broken birds.”
“I suppose I do.” Goldilocks smiled